Introduction

It would seem obvious to say that development does not stop at birth. In fact many systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, homeostasis) undergo significant changes at birth, and many others (neural) have not yet completed their development.

Postnatal development can be broadly divided into the age categories of: Neonatal (birth to 1 month), Infancy (1 month to 2 years), Childhood (2 years to puberty), Puberty (12 years to mid-teens) and Young Adult a new category (late teens to early twenties).

Neurological development continues postnatally with both growth and reorganization of the central nervous system. The amount of simple physical growth is shown by the skeletal flexibility designed around the brain and spinal cord, which allows continued postnatal growth of these structures. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently identified early postnatal motor skill development in terms of "motor milestones"[1], this was released along with new international growth charts.

Many factors causing abnormal development can also lead to childhood mortality. In developed countries, we sometimes forget that every year (mainly in developing countries) some 12 million children die before reaching their fifth birthday, many of them during their first year of life. Of these, 70% are killed by one of five causes (diarrhoea, pneumonia, measles, malaria or malnutrition) and often by some combination of them (WHO Fact Sheet N96 November 1995).

For more child population data look at the section below on Child Health Statistics of the world, between and within specific countries.

Note this current project focuses on prenatal development, so postnatal content is not as detailed.

Newborn normal

Newborn abnormal

Abnormalities

There are many birth and perinatal associated abnormalities. In particular the perinatal period is a time when fetal systems that have either not yet been functional (respiratory, gastrointestinal, neural) or are extensively remodelled (cardiovascular, placental). There are also a number of maternal issues.

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) has two entire chapters committed to the childbirth and the perinatal period, the major sub-headings are shown below. More detail is available on the chapter pages, Chapter XV Pregnancy Childbirth and Chapter XVI Perinatal Period. The World Health Organization's ICD classification used worldwide as the standard diagnostic tool for epidemiology, health management and clinical purposes. This includes the analysis of the general health situation of population groups. It is used to monitor the incidence and prevalence of diseases and other health problems.

Chapter XV Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O99)

The codes included in this chapter are to be used for conditions related to or aggravated by the pregnancy, childbirth or by the puerperium (maternal causes or obstetric causes)